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What is your best classroom management trick?
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Set up your room before the first day of pre- planning. So many meetings there is no time. A basic set-up like the arrangement of the desk & the bulletin board then for the rest of the year add to it.
Don't feel like your room needs to look like a Pinterest board. A clean background makes a wonderful place to add student artwork.
Pro
Be nice to the secretaries & custodians, they are the ones that do the real work, a good principal know that, a bad one does not.
Chief
Yes, get to know the support staff because they are the heartbeat of the school.
I agree with checking with a seasoned teacher at your grade level. Working closely with that teacher before and during your first year will prove to be helpful. They will have the insight into the school building, procedures, what you'll need, and information to disperse to students. Besides having my classroom set and welcoming messages and classroom information for families, I make sure I triple check my transportation list and make bus tags. I make sure lunch tags are ready to go as well. I also check to see if there are any students with allergies, read over students IEPs or 504s, and check for custody information. In my opinion, these are important things to know about your students for day one.
A lot of schools have a mentor program. See if that is available and if you can get an email to your mentor. They can answer a lit of questions prior to entering the school without bombarding Administration. As Covid changes, they are bombarded with decisions and policy.
Chief
Shopped sales for things like colored pencils, paper, pencils...
You will get them cheap now if you keep an eye out.
Goodwill! I never buy binder dividers anywhere else. Resale shops are also the way I e built by classroom library, along with BookOutlet.com.
If your district uses a specific curriculum like Pearson it Springboard, read through it so you’re not trying to keep one step ahead of the kids. Also, even though you won’t get paid to do it, it will make your life easier if you set up your room and get it ready for students about a week before teachers go back. You will feel far less stressed.
Chief
Also, think about whether there might be some content you might want to enhance, add, alter, replace...
First impressions (are irrevocable) yet essential. So you must be confident, consistent, kind yet firm and in control. Make sure you know your district and school protocols and that your rules are enforceable. Don't put yourself in a position in which you must backtrack. Students can see right through teachers that have no backbone or that lack consistent confidence. If you make a rule you apply it fairly and consistently (whatever the outcome). If you can't do the above you may not survive the first year. Pick your battles carefully and understand that classroom management is essential to academic success. Life is a balance, teaching more so. Harmony is what you seek; a balance of kindness, social norms, academic excellence, respect and administrative compliance. Good Luck! And don't forget to do a self assessment after each grading period to improve the process.
Do NOT try to take every suggestion thrown your way or try to meet every standard/expectation at once. Take it easy on yourself. Focus on one or two things you think can improve your teaching over the year and don’t let people push you into taking on more than that.
Also, don’t be afraid to let what seems like a disaster roll for a little bit. Sometimes an idea just needs a small adjustment or two in order to work. At the same time, don’t be afraid to abandon something that isn’t working or isn’t worth the time. And if you do that, don’t feel like you failed. You learned.
Finally, accept that the first year will be overwhelming and come with a big learning curve. Accept that every teacher has that experience and it isn’t just you. 🙂
Pro
Great advice-and the one about the calendar-may seem small thing but soooo smart to do it at end of day!
Try to learn their first names and correct pronunciation. Breathe and enjoy!
Pro
Great ideas! I love all the suggestions! I look in PowerSchool to see their name and put a face to a name even before I meet them. This helps me to get to know their names pretty fast.
Contact your grade level team they might have some things in place to support you.
Chief
I wish that I had known that all the stuff I learned in methods classes was a bunch of bunk. Find what works for you and stick with it.
When they walk in the classroom on day one, have a seating chart on your overhead. This immediately tells them that they are in YOUR room.
Make sure you have a place for backpacks established. They should not have them at their seats. I hung two 2x4x8s across the back wall of the room and put 3/8 lag bolts in them, numbering each one. Each desk is numbered as well. The students use the bolt which corresponds to their seat. This way, if an administrator comes in looking for a particular kid and his/her bag, I know which one it is.
Smile. Be approachable. Let your students know that you are there for them.
I agree with both- but I think it depends on your grade level and personal preference. I taught 4th and for 3 years they had their backpacks on their chairs- no problem. I established rules about “playing” with their backpacks. The 4th year, admin bought seat pockets to put their stuff in- so the back packs went on hooks around the room.
I am now teaching kinder and the backpacks go outside- it’s what my site offered. I’m not sure I would have the backpacks in the room for the littles as they seem very distracted.
Find what works for you. ☺️ implement rules around that.
I found that individual pencil pouches (purchased at Walmart or Amazon) helped with classroom management. I would put 5 pencils in each, and at the end of the week if they had 5 pencils- they would get school “cash”. I would sharpen them on Fridays- the pencil sharpener being used all day or in the middle of my lesson drove me crazy- and I found that this really helped. 🙃good luck!
Congratulations! There is a book called, “the first days of school “ by Harry Wong. It has lots of great tips and things to do several weeks ahead of time. If you can, learn all your kids’ name as soon as possible and set aside time for several good and bad calls home each day the first week. Good luck!
Best of luck to you. If you are just starting I would say this- plan for more than what you will have time in the day to do. You will be nervous, and the more prepared you are the better you will feel meeting your students for the first time. Hopefully you have an experienced grade level colleague. See if you can hook up with him/her before hand to get some collaborative planning done. That can be very helpful. Don’t wait until your first “report day” to start working. Meetings and trainings will take up your time, and you will be pulling your hair out. Planning and prep: the two key ingredients to feeling confident in the classroom. A wise person once told me- if you don’t have a plan for them, they’ll have a plan for you. Your mission is to not be that person, lol. Good luck!
Get to know the custodians and support personnel and always have a back up lesson plan
When planning my first week, I used a checklist that helped me think of everything in regards to routines, expectations, procedures, etc. message me if you want the checklist or Google it. There are always an inexperienced teacher won’t think of that might be on the checklist. I remember it helping make sure I had plans that help make my classroom management smoother.
Will you please share your checklist? I am always looking for more effective ways to make my transition from summer back to school more efficiently for me and my household.
It depends on what grade level and subject matter you are teaching, but I think it's important to know the rules, enforce them from the beginning, but take those rule breakers aside to talk with them about making better decisions. Often, that takes care of the problem.
Also, remember, your job is to be their teacher not their friend; you can be friendly without compromising your position of authority.
Most importantly, get to know your students. Love them. Pray for them. They can feel when a relationship is genuine. They will work harder and give you less trouble if they know you care.
Create a folder or something to hold the many cards, notes, thank you's, etc. When you're having a rough day, these will remind you why you do what you do.
Pro
Love, love love this idea!!
Sleep
Get your tech lined up. Find out what you are getting and set up your accounts. Learn how to use it.
Find a mentor
Establish expectations and stand firm and consistently for the first 6-8 weeks. When you feel confident, ease up a little. Just remember to remind students of expectations after thanksgiving week, winter and spring breaks.
Establish teacher/student relationships so students will trust you. Be compassionate to those in poverty and DO NOT assume the student(s) can’t do the work. There may be a reason: abuse, poverty, homeless, depression and so on. ALL children need someone to listen to them. Many of my students came from poverty, homelessness and abusive relationships. Just be aware of each student. Let them know you care
It’s okay to cry when overwhelmed. Use wise time management in lesson planning. Ask for help from other teachers. Sometimes they have awesome ideas! Get plenty of rest and take care of yourself.